Walnut scrubber



June 5, 1928. J 1,672,445

J. J. BYBERG WALNUT SCRUBBER Filed Sept. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 5, 1928.

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Applieatioiiifiled September 21, 1926; SeriaLNoi 136,877:

This invention relates to devices. for

general scrubbing and cleaning nuts and the d e aeobjectof thein-vention is: to provid vice of this. character which is very simple,

which will not take much power. to operate, and particularly which wulli thoroughly scrub and clean. walnuts or. other nuts A further object. is to provide. a machine oi; this character which, forthe purpose of its) a Figure 1.

scrubbing nuts, utilizes two: opposed and rel ati-vely movable scrubbing mats of cocoafiber which can be quickly, easily and cheaply replaced after they have been worn out. pIfDVltlB. means whereby these cocoa fiber scrubbing matsv may l e-- Another object is to resiliently forced toward eachcthen and adjusted to suit nuts of different diameters or to secure a greater or with the surfaces-of; the nuts.

Other objects will appear in the following description.

1y invention s illustrated in ma the course of pa-nying drawin s. wherein Figurel is a side elevation of a nut scrub-- bin q mach'ne constructed; in accordance w th my invention; v v

Fig.2 is fragmentary transverse section on the line 22 of Figure .1

Fig-. is an end elevation. olfthe scrubbing machine;

Fig; .t is. a section on. me 1; Fig,

of one the line 5 is a detailed fragmentary section of the scrubbers on the line 55 of Referring to these drawings it will be seen that my machine embodies a hopper mounted upon corner posts 11, these corner posts being connected by braces 12, carrying the intermediate vertical members 13, these vertical members supporting a crank shaft 14. This crank shaft carries oppositely disposed cranks on its ends and the intermediate friction I drive wheel or belt wheel 16.

The hopper has a relatively longand narrow discharge mouth and disposed below this mouth and extending parallel to the side walls thereof are the opposed scrubbing elements consisting of the two cocoa fiber mats 17 and 18 which are arranged parallel to each other and having their fibers or bris-- tles projecting inward toward each other, there being just space enough between the inner surfaces of these scrubbing mats to receive the nuts from the hopper.

less frictional Contactnected by crank rods 22 to t e cra 1.5

and thus the opposedv mats may be caused to reciprocate in opposite directions. ()ne of the mats might be fixedand the other one reciprocate but I prefer that. both mats reciprocate. 4

The ends of the rods 21 are; engaged in openings, or sockets 23 formed; in the; members 13 It is desirable that the scrubbing elements be urged toward each other or that the scrubbing able to control, the distance between the elei'nents' This might hesecured: by means of adjustment", screws Thus; as illustrated in the v drawings, the brushes are urged toward eaclr other by spring pressure upon; the rods. QIh TlIGSQ elements shall be: adjustbut preferably by springs. I

The mats proper "may be supported by their ends bolts 24 engaged with one of I said rods andextending loosely through the other red,- the lastnamed rod being mountedin. slots formed ingthe braces 13 to permitthe. last named ro'dto shift. The spring Qiisurrounds. the. outer end oi the bolt and bears, against a washer 2.6, which in turnbars against the adjacentrod 21 and the tension of this spring 25 may be adjusted by means of the nut 27 operating on the screw-threaded portion of the bolt 24. (There may be as many of these bolts 24 as it may be found necessary.)

' Below the scrubbing elements there is disposed a transversely extending downwardly inclined grate 28 supported on suitable frame bars 29 and below this grate there is a water trough or chute 30. Disposed above the hopper is a spray pipe 31 perforated to discharge water downward on the nuts contained in the hopper. The operation of the p given a rolling action due to the relative movement of the brushes or scrubbing elements. This rolling action causes the brush fibers to enter the crevices of the nuts, thus removing all embedded dirt, fiber and loose hulls that may be clinging to the nut. The water from the spray passes down around the walnuts and between the scrubbing detrolled by controlling the pressure of the fiber mats upon the walnuts by properly -tensioning the springs 25. Preferably a finger 32 will be attached to one of the scrubbing elements at the upper edge thereof and will extend up into the mouth of the hopper so as to act as an agitator preventing the walnuts from clogging within the hopper. When the walnuts have passed downward between the brushes they are separated from the water and then by means of the grate or screen 28, the walnuts rolling down the screen are discharged int-o any suitable container. The dirt and Water will be caught in the trough '30. Obviously if running water is not available to supply the machine a tank can be substituted for the trough and the Water pumped up from this tank and discharged into the hopper. It is not absolutely necessary to have both brushes reciprocate as one of the brushes might be stationary and the other brush only reciprocats, but poorer scrubbing will result.

"One of the objects of this machine is that the brushes or scrubbing elements are self cleaning because they stand on edge and, therefore, no dirt can collect between the fibers. Obviously the machine may be run by hand'if desired instead of bypower.

While I have illustrated a particular em bodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited thereto as the arrangement of v l. A scrubbing machine comprising two confronting vertically disposed scrubbing elements, means for relatively reciprocating said elements in opposite directions, a hopper discharging into the space between said elements, means for adjusting the distance between the inner faces of said elements, and means for yieldingly holding said elements in adjusted position and resiliently urging the elements toward each other, said means being adjustable.

2. A scrubber of the character described comprising 'a supporting frame, a hopper mounted thereon and having an elongated discharge opening, opposed relatively flat scrubbing elements disposed in confronting relation positioned below the hopper and having inwardly projecting fibers, longitudinally extending rods upon which said scrubbing elements are mounted for reciprocation, means for adjusting the rods toward or from eachother and yieldingly urging the rods on one side toward the rods on the other, means for reciprocating the scrubbing elements on the rods.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JONAS J. BYBERG. 

